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Buffalo City Metro preparing for more disruptive rain

Location: News

Buffalo City Metro preparing for more disruptive rain

The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality says the possibility of undertaking mop up operations have been placed on hold as the city prepares for more disruptive rain.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued an orange level 6 warning for disruptive rain and the possibility of flooding in various areas, including in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.

Rains leading to flooding of settlements/property, roads, danger to life, with some communities temporarily cut off, are expected today.

Two people have died and over 2 234 people were impacted by flooding earlier this week and the city is still intervening. This number of displaced people is expected to rise.

“Displaced residents have been accommodated in community halls in Mdantsane, Braelyn and Mzamomhle, while others are being moved to chalets, old age homes and temporary housing structures,” the metro said in a statement.

Eleven wards across the metro have been affected, including areas like Ducats, Pefferville, Duncan Village, Cambridge Location, Mzamomhle, Reeston, Stoney Drift, Mdantsane and Gompo.

Rescue operations are continuous and emergency teams remain on high alert.

The municipality pleaded with residents not to attempt driving or crossing any flooded areas.

“Residents are advised to evacuate from flood plains and low laying areas, and following the weather warnings and safety tips issued by the metro on various media platforms,” it said.

The metro further appealed to business and residents to assist with donations. It is working with the Department of Social Development, together with NGOs Gift of the Givers and Living Hope, to assist with clothes, groceries, blankets and food parcels.

Donations of the following items are welcome, including clothing, blankets, mattresses, groceries, non-perishable foods like canned food, baby food and toys for kids.

“We are also calling on organisations that have the ability to provide hot meals to the displaced people that are currently staying in halls to also assist,” the metro said.

All non-perishable items can be dropped off at the East London City Hall between office hours 08h00 - 16h30.

The BCMM Disaster Centre can be contacted on 0437059000.

The metro has held engagements with the Department of Human Settlements to avail temporary relocation structures. Officials from the department are already in the area to verify numbers and make submissions.

The metro is dealing with 454 electrical fault cases in various areas in East London, Mdantsane and eQonce area.

“All teams have been assigned to the different regions and we have managed to get extra hands to deal with the calls. The metro is pleading with all households that are affected to be patient as technicians are working tirelessly to resolve all faults.”

All metro beaches remain closed since yesterday.

“Sea conditions are still very dangerous, with debris and floating objects in the water posing danger. Several roads in East London remain closed and are being monitored due to flooding.”

The metro is still urging residents to be on high alert. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 06/05/2024 - 12:25

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Read moreBuffalo City Metro preparing for more disruptive rain

Buffalo City search and rescue operations continue

Location: News

Buffalo City search and rescue operations continue

Search and rescue operations continue in the Buffalo City Metro in the Eastern Cape which has been hit by inclement weather.

“The Buffalo City Metro is intervening in areas that have been impacted by floods… Rescue operations are continuous as emergency teams remain on high alert. Search and rescue teams are still searching for a missing 20-year-old who was washed away near Dawn in East London,” the metro said in a statement on Monday.

The metro reported that a pedestrian was fatally knocked down in a flooded street in Westbank over the weekend while a 13-year-old was recued in Amalinda Forest.

In an update at 1:30pm, the metro said that 1300 people had been displaced by the floods.

“Displaced residents have been accommodated in community halls in Mdantsane, Braelyn and Mzamomhle whilst others are being moved to chalets, old age homes and temporary housing structures.”

Eleven wards across the metro have been affected including areas like Ducats, Pefferville, Duncan Village, Cambridge Location, Mzamomhle, Reeston, Stoney Drift, Mdantsane and Gompo.

The metro is also working with the Department of Social Development together with non-government organisations Gift of the Givers and Living Hope to assist with clothes, groceries, blankets and food parcels.

The metro’s executive Mayor Princess Faku visited Duncan Village, Mdantsane and Stoney Drift with Gift of the Givers on Monday morning.

In addition, the metro is engaging with the Department of Human Settlements to avail temporary relocation structures.

“Thus far, 800 temporary structures are being verified to be included in the database.”

This as the metro is dealing with 379 electrical fault cases in various areas in East London, Mdantsane and eQonce.

“All teams have been assigned to the different regions. The main challenge is fallen electrical poles leading to cables and transformers being dysfunctional.”

Rescue operations

In East London yesterday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), South African Police Services (SAPS), Police Dive Unit, Police K9 Search and Rescue responded to a sailing yacht with a jetty saving a passenger barge from sinking.

Also, Priority Care Ambulance Services, Buffalo City Metro (BCM) Traffic Services and Emergency Services responded to 10 flood-related incidents at various locations around East London.

In one scene, six people (four adults, one aged 80, and two children) were rescued from a flooded home, where their two dogs drowned.

Roads and beaches

The heavy rains have posed challenges for the city's storm water drainage systems resulting in the blockage of major roads such as Settlersway, Biko Bride from Westbank to East London CBD, Cambridge Cemetery, Duncan Village, Cc Loyd Township, Parkridge and Scenery Park.

The Disaster Management Service has conducted an initial damages assessment and the city's Infrastructure, Traffic, Fire and Rescue Services have been instrumental in clearing of blockages.

“The metro is advising motorists to be cautious around flooded roads and bridges. Communities and motorists are urged to be extra cautious and report any incidents.”

The metro has urged residents to contact emergency services call centre on (043) 705 9000 and their respective ward councilors for assistance.

The city has set up a Disaster Management Operations Centre which is being chaired by the Mayor and includes disaster management, law enforcement, traffic, fire, police lifesaving, EMS Ambulance services and the NSRI.

Meanwhile, all metro beaches remain closed.

The metro is still urging residents to be on high alert as more disruptive rain is predicted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the floods. This as seven lives have been lost in the Eastern Cape. - SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin
Mon, 06/03/2024 - 14:25

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Read moreBuffalo City search and rescue operations continue

Buffalo City residents urged to be cautious during rainy conditions

Location: News

Buffalo City residents urged to be cautious during rainy conditions

Buffalo City Metro in the Eastern Cape has warned residents and motorists to exercise caution as rainy conditions persist.

Wards 15, 30, 33, 35, 45 and 49, along with Duncan Village Ward 2 and 6, are the most severely affected.

“However, no one has been displaced or any fatalities reported. Our Disaster Management teams, together with our Human Settlements, are still on the ground collecting information on the affected people,” Buffalo City Metro said in a statement.

According to the city, the Electricity Department and Fire Services, as well as Disaster Management, are still on standby.

Residents are advised to contact Disaster Management on 0437437118 and the Fire Service on 043 705 9000 in the event of any eventuality.

“We advise councillors to be aware of the inclement weather conditions and activate their ward-based structures for any eventualities,” the city said.

The city noted with concern that some of the contributing factors to flooding include the construction of houses in low-lying areas (flood lines)/wetlands, the strain to the drainage system, which is mainly compromised by littering and the illegal building on top of municipal infrastructure.

“Our Disaster Management services are in constant contact with the South African Weather Service to monitor severe weather conditions, and to distribute such to the affected communities and sectors,” the City said.

Motorists traveling around the East London, Mdantsane, and eQonce areas are advised to look out for low-lying roads and bridges.

A number of streets are experiencing blocked drainage, which is caused by illegal dumping. However, the city has deployed jetting machines to unblock stormwater drainage systems.

“Our teams (both internal and external) have been on standby and have been working on all the areas of Buffalo City to unblock stormwater systems and the overflow problem in the city, and will continue to do so until the situation is improved or rescued," the city said.

With regards to the water outage in Dimbaza, the city confirmed that power has been affected, and as a result, the whole system is empty, and it will take about a week to recover the system. This was due to no production of water and pumping from Amatola Water's Laing WTW for three days. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Tue, 10/17/2023 - 10:37

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Read moreBuffalo City residents urged to be cautious during rainy conditions

Delays at at the Belstone Interchange

Location: News

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to advise travellers that controlled blasting is scheduled to take place at the new Belstone Interchange in eQonce (formerly King Williams Town) at 3pm on Friday, 12 May 2023. The blasting operations will take place at the corner of Joubert Street and the MR0688. The …

Read moreDelays at at the Belstone Interchange